Comments on: Fanfare and Fireworks: The Reburial of Richard III https://nomosjournal.org/columns/heritage-and-the-holy/fanfare-and-fireworks-the-reburial-of-richard-iii/ Pop Culture Made Meaningful Mon, 26 Aug 2019 02:03:30 -0600 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: David R Howell https://nomosjournal.org/columns/heritage-and-the-holy/fanfare-and-fireworks-the-reburial-of-richard-iii/#comment-30 David R Howell Sun, 09 Aug 2015 22:32:55 +0000 http://nomosjournal.org/?post_type=column&p=3269#comment-30 In reply to <a href="https://nomosjournal.org/columns/heritage-and-the-holy/fanfare-and-fireworks-the-reburial-of-richard-iii/#comment-29">Kelly</a>. Hi Kelly, many thanks for taking the time to comment. From your website, it's clear you are a Richard enthusiast, and I certainly hope you enjoyed the big day earlier this year. In terms of repatriation, I would certainly argue that you can repatriate human remains into a community if those remains were found in that locality. Human remains excavated and removed from the ground for research purposes, can be considered to have been repatriated on their return. However, you will note from the column that I do state, repeatedly, that this was not a true case of repatriation. Whether there is anything "wrong" with what was presented in Leicester will most likely come down to individual reflections. However, your own assertion, that this was the community "wanting to show it off" does somewhat support my argument that this was an exercise in promotion. At no point do I argue whether this was right or wrong, but I certainly do argue that this was an exercise in promotion, rather than burial. The rights and wrongs of that will fall on what the event was intended to be. It is interesting that you cite extreme reactions regarding Richard and the York/Leicester divide. This again only serves to highlight how little this had to do with respectful commemoration of the dead, and instead reflects respective community desires to benefit, be it financially or otherwise, from ownership (here repatriation fits in again) of the remains. Contemporary agendas and local promotion were certainly major factors in the event, I merely contest that the burial of a king, ultimately had very little to do with proceedings. In reply to Kelly.

Hi Kelly, many thanks for taking the time to comment. From your website, it’s clear you are a Richard enthusiast, and I certainly hope you enjoyed the big day earlier this year.

In terms of repatriation, I would certainly argue that you can repatriate human remains into a community if those remains were found in that locality. Human remains excavated and removed from the ground for research purposes, can be considered to have been repatriated on their return. However, you will note from the column that I do state, repeatedly, that this was not a true case of repatriation.

Whether there is anything “wrong” with what was presented in Leicester will most likely come down to individual reflections. However, your own assertion, that this was the community “wanting to show it off” does somewhat support my argument that this was an exercise in promotion. At no point do I argue whether this was right or wrong, but I certainly do argue that this was an exercise in promotion, rather than burial. The rights and wrongs of that will fall on what the event was intended to be.

It is interesting that you cite extreme reactions regarding Richard and the York/Leicester divide. This again only serves to highlight how little this had to do with respectful commemoration of the dead, and instead reflects respective community desires to benefit, be it financially or otherwise, from ownership (here repatriation fits in again) of the remains.

Contemporary agendas and local promotion were certainly major factors in the event, I merely contest that the burial of a king, ultimately had very little to do with proceedings.

]]> By: Kelly https://nomosjournal.org/columns/heritage-and-the-holy/fanfare-and-fireworks-the-reburial-of-richard-iii/#comment-29 Kelly Wed, 29 Jul 2015 00:32:45 +0000 http://nomosjournal.org/?post_type=column&p=3269#comment-29 How can you "repatriate" Richard III? He was born in England, he was King of England, he died in England, & was buried in England. All they did was re-inter his remains in Leicester Cathedral because the site of his original tomb was destroyed. (The court case ended in 2014 in favor of Leicester, by the way) What I experienced in Leicester in March was a community that was proud of its history & wanting to show it off while remembering a monarch. There's nothing wrong with that. Instead of asking why the reinterment ceremonies & activities were so extravagant, you should be asking why some feel so personally wrapped up in where Richard was re-interred, that they go to extremes online & in real life. The Dean of York Minster was threatened with physical violence & one "York supporter" was so angry at her mere mention of the word "Leicester," that he disrupted the ceremony held in York Minster, confronted & shouted at the Dean, then assaulted a police officer on his way out. How can you “repatriate” Richard III? He was born in England, he was King of England, he died in England, & was buried in England. All they did was re-inter his remains in Leicester Cathedral because the site of his original tomb was destroyed. (The court case ended in 2014 in favor of Leicester, by the way) What I experienced in Leicester in March was a community that was proud of its history & wanting to show it off while remembering a monarch. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Instead of asking why the reinterment ceremonies & activities were so extravagant, you should be asking why some feel so personally wrapped up in where Richard was re-interred, that they go to extremes online & in real life. The Dean of York Minster was threatened with physical violence & one “York supporter” was so angry at her mere mention of the word “Leicester,” that he disrupted the ceremony held in York Minster, confronted & shouted at the Dean, then assaulted a police officer on his way out.

]]>